va - Urgh! A Music War The Album

Soundtrack to the classic concert film from 1981, with live recordings of XTC, Echo & the Bunnymen, Oingo Boingo, Pere Ubu, Dead Kennedys, 999, Orchestral Manoeuvers in the Dark, Gang of Four, Fleshtones, Toyah Wilcox, Wall of Voodoo, Skafish, the Au-Pairs, Devo, a not-great showing from Gary Numan, too much by The Police (because the movie's director and IRS Records' CEO Miles Copeland is Police drummer Stewart's brother), and lots more. Of particular note is the incendiary performance by The Cramps, which to me is a career highlight for its manic, drooling lunacy. Same for Klaus Nomi's blinding turn on "Total Eclipse", which doubles as a painful reminder that he passed away far too soon. Due to legal whatnot, it's highly unlikely that the movie will be remastered and made available though any above-board channels, but bits have popped up on YouTube. Better than nothing.





va - Urgh! A Music War The Album